System for propelling vessels.



'I'. MOTTON. SYSTEM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1908p 927,99 Patented July 13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET. 1.

T. MOTTON.

SYSTEM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1908.

' 927,996. Patented July 13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. I. MM 90.. mum. wummou. me

THOMAS MOTTON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SYSTEM FOR PROPELLING VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909. Serial No. 434,787.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS Mo'rroN, of the city of Toronto, in thecounty of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, having invented newand useful Improvements in Systems for Propelling Vessels, do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of thesame.

My invention relates to a means for propelling vessels by compressed airejected from outlet ports situated below the water line, and adapted todischarge rearwardly from the stern and side of the hull. The air iscompressed amidships by ordinary air compressors operated by the usualsteam engine or motor power, and is then conveyed by pipes or conduitsthroughout the vessel to the points of egress.

The objects of my invention are to create a propulsion power whereby aslittle machinery as possible may be used to move the vessel,particularly as regards propelling blades as by eliminating the latter,the stern resistance from the following waves will be overcome, and thefriction on the screw therefrom is eliminated, thereby propelling thevessel by a means whereby the friction will be minimized.

By discharging compressed air through outlet ports situated in the sidesand stern of the hull, the air will be caused to strike against thewater which tends to push it back, and as the water resists on accountof its inertia, and as the water is heavier than the vessel, therefore,the natural result will be that the vessel will be moved forward.

Near the point of outlet in each of the conveying tubes throughout thehull, I provide a gate valve adapted to close off the discharge of airfrom the outlet ports, and also to prevent the water from entering inthrough the conveying tubes. The gate valves arranged in combinationwith the air conveying tubes, in close proximity with the outlet ports,consist of a valve mechanism that may be operated by compressed airwhich will preferably be conveyed by a separate set of air tubes for thepurpose of conveying the air from the air compressor to a valve cylinderforming a part of each of the gate valves. The air in this separate setof air tubes will preferably be controlled by cut off valves operatedfrom the pilot house in the vessel.

I make no claim to the system of air compressing or to the means ofdistributing throughout the hull, but my invention relates to the systemof ejecting air through a series of outlet ports arranged in the hull ofthe vessel, whereby the air will be caused to strike against the waterfrom below the water line in a suflicient volume to cause the necessarypressure against the inert water with the result that the vessel wouldbe moved forward, in the same relative manner as a vessel would becaused to move forward by the action of a propelling screw on the water.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the hull of the vessel.Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hullof the vessel, showing the situation of the out off valves and conveyingtubes to operate same. Fig. 4: is a detailed view of one of the cut offvalves and the tubular connection therewith. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection through Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the couplingof the tubular connection of the air compressor showing the controllingvalve in position.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings andspecification.

a, designates the hull of the vessel in all respects similar to thecommon shape of hulls. Situated in any position amidship is an aircompressor Z). I make no specific mention to the system or means ofoperating the air compressor, as it may be of any of the common formsknown, and will be of a ca.- pacity to distribute suflicient air todisplace the vessel in comparison with its capacity.

Situated through the sides of the hull below the water line are aplurality of outlet ports 0, and extending through the stern part of thehull are outlet ports (Z. I prefer to arrange the outlet ports in thestern part of the hull on either side of the rudder post, that I maydischarge the compressed air from one side only, closing off thedischarge from the opposite side, whereby the pressure from thedischarge of compressed air will be unequal or from one side of the hullonly, as a means for turning the vessel. The same principle will applyto the outlet ports along the sides of the vessel where the pressure ordischarge of compressed air may be cut off from one side to provide forturning the vessel.

Situated in the bow of the hull below the 'water line are outlet ports0, adapted to dis charge the compressed air forward or in an oppositedirection from that of theoutlet ports 0 and (Z, arranged through thesides and stern part of the hull respectively. The outlet ports 6 in thebow of the hull are to be used for the purpose of causing the vessel tobe moved backward, and may also be used to facilitate in turning thevessel. whereby the compressed air may be forced out of the outlet portsin one side of the bow only. hen the outlet ports a in the bow are to beused in conjunction with the outlet ports (Z in the stern, as a meansfor turning the vessel, the outlet ports through the side diametricallyopposite those opened in the stern will be opened. It will be understoodthe outlet ports a will always be closed by the valves when the vesselis traveling forwardly.

Communicating between the outlet ports c in the sides of the hull andthe air compressor situated amidship, are conveying tubes or.condujitsf, and communicating between the air compressor and the outlet ports (Z,are conveying tubes or conduits g. Communicating between the aircompressor and the outlet ports 0 in the bow of the hull are conveyingtubes or conduits h. The conveying tubes or conduits f, g and h are forthe purpose of conveying the compressed air from the air compressor tothe point of egress where it will be discharged through the outlet portsand caused to strike or push against the water at such an angle that itwill cause the vessel to move forward.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown the conveying tubes or conduitsf, g and h all as separate connections between the air compressor andthe outlet ports, but in practice I may find it more practical to haveone main conduit from the air compressor with a branch connecting witheach of the separate outlet ports as shown in Fig. 3.

Fitted in each of the conveying tubes or conduits f, g and h in closeproximity with the outlet ports are air controlled valves 4, so arrangedthat they may be adjusted to permit the compressed air to escape throughthe outlet ports and also to be adjusted to prevent water from enteringin through the tubes or conduits when the compressed air may be cut offfrom all or any one of the tubes, as for instance When the compressedair is closed off from discharging from either side of the vessel whenbacking or turning.

Arranged or set in the coupling box for the air conveying tubes orconduits with the air compressor, is an automatic pendulum valve Z1,that will instantly open and close the supply of compressed air from theair compressor to the conveying tubes or conduits. The automaticpendulum valve is for the purpose of opening and closing, the supply ofcompressed air to either side of the vessel alternately, when the vesselmay roll or pitch extensively in stormy weather which would cause any ofthe outlet ports to be exposed above the water line.

The air conveying tubes on conduits that supply the air to the outletports 0 formed through the sides of the vessel, are coupled to the sidesof the air compressor, and extend sidewise therefrom.

The coupling box j, consists of a boxlilte projection formed with theair compressor into which the ends 727. of the tubes or conduits extend.

Pivotally suspended by a pin a, and adapted to swing sidewise in thecoupling box 7', is the pendulum valve 76. The pendulum valve comprisesa head 7), formed on the upper end of the pendulum bar is, and issituated to be interposed between the ends 171. of the tube or conduitf, projecting into the coupling box The head p is formed with conicalshaped ends 0 adapted to engage in the ends m of the tubes or conduitsOn the lower end of the pendulum bar 70 is fastened a weight 8, adaptedto create momentum. In the event of the vessel rolling into a positionas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the pendulum valve 76 will swingsidewise until the head 29 engages into the open end m of the tubes orconduit f, and forms a plug by which it will close off the air frompassing into the end m, of the tube or conduit f, in that side of thevessel until such time as the vessel rights itself, when it will returnto a vertical position.

41, represents gate valves arranged in combination with the conveyingtubes or conduits f, g and h respectively, discharging into the outletports 0, d and 6 respectively. Arranged immediately above each of thevalves 4 and forming a part therewith is a cylinder valve casing 7.

1O designates the valve spindle formed with each of the valves 4, andadapted to extend upwardly into the respective cylinder valve casing.Formed on the upper end of the valve spindle 10 is a piston head 11,adapted to move up and down in the said cylinder valve.

Formed on the cylinder valve casing and forming communication With theupper and lower parts therein are couplings 12, and connected with thecouplings 12 are conveying tubes or conduits 18, for the purpose ofconveying compressed air from the air compressor to the respectivecylinder valves 7.

The conveying tubes or conduits 13, are adapted to pass in closeproximity or through the pilot house, and are fitted with cut off valves16, so that the air may be controlled to be conveyed and discharged intothe upper or lower part of the cylinder valve as the case may be, whichwould cause the piston head 11 to rise or lower, and open the valves-inthe conveying tubes f, g and h. The valves 16 may be opened or closedthat all of the valves 4, may be opened or closed simultaneously orseparately. By opening the valves 16 to permit the air to pass into thelower part of the cylinder valve casing, the piston head 11 would riseand open the gate valve and allow the air to discharge through any ofthe outlet ports, and by closing off the air from the lower part of thecylinder valve casing and forcing it into the upper part the piston headwould be caused to lower, and close the gate valve in connection withthe outlet port, and prevent the discharge of air therefrom. When any ofthe valves 16 are opened to permit the air to enter into the upper orlower part of the cylinder valve casing, it will be necessary to open orclose a vent in one or another of the upper or lower conveying tubes orconduits as the case may be, to prevent back pressure.

By reference to the drawings it will be noticed by the arrangement ofthe outlet ports in the hull, the compressed air would be caused todischarge obliquely, and as the compressed air will seek to rise to thesurface of the water, it will be understood that a certain tendency todisplace the water from the hull will be effected, by which action Imaintain I may move the vessel.

The outlet ports in the stern of the hull are adapted to eject thecompressed air obliquely, and in a manner that the air in rising to thesurface would strike the under side of the stern which will be slantingupward, and as the air passes along the face of the hull in rising tothe surface, it tends to displace the water, or pushes it away in such amanner that as the vessel is lighter than the water the natural courseof the vessel would be forced forward.

The system of distributing the compressed air from the air compressor tothe outlet ports may consist of any suitable conduit system, and thevalve mechanism arranged in the different conduits may be of any of thecommon forms known.

I make no claim as to the number of outlet ports arranged in the hull orto the exact situation of their shape or size, as for different sizevessels greater or lesser numbers of outlet ports may be required, and Imay find that the shape of the outlet ports may require to be varied fordifferent styles of vessels.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a system for propelling vessels, of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits communicating betweensaid air compressor and said outlet ports, gate valves arranged in saidconveying tubes or conduits adjacent to said outlet ports, a valvecylinder arranged in combination with said gate valve, means foroperating said valve cylinder and gate valve, as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a system for propelling vessels, of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull, an air compressor suitably situated in said hull,conveying tubes or conduits communicating between said air compressorand said outlet ports, gate valves arranged in said conveying tubes orconduits adjacent to said outlet ports, a Valve cylinder arranged incombination with said gate valves, tubular conduit connections betweensaid valve cylinder and said air compressor, and means for operatingsaid valve cylinder and gate valves by compressed air, as and for thepurpose specified.

3. In a system for propelling vessels, of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits connnunicatingbetween said air compressor and said outlet ports, gate valves arrangedin said conveying tubes or conduits adjacent to said outlet ports, avalve cylinder arranged in combination with said gate valves, tubularconduit connections between said valve cylinder and said air compressor,a piston head adapted to be raised or lowered in said valve cylinder bythe alternate ingress and egress of compressed air supplied to saidvalve cylinder, said piston head c011- nected with valve spindle of saidgate valve, and adapted to operate therewith, as and for the purposespecified.

4. In a system for propelling vessels, of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull and below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits communicating betweensaid air compressor and said outlet ports, gate valves arranged in saidconveying tubes or conduits adjacent to said outlet ports, a valvecylinder arranged in combination with said gate valves as a means foroperating said gate valves, a pendulum valve in combination with saidconveying tubes or conduits adjacent with the coupling with said aircompressor, and adapted. to automatically open and close the supply ofair to said conveying tubes or conduits through the rolling of thevessel, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a system for propelling vessels, of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull and below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits communicating betweensaid air compressor and said outlet ports, a pendulum Valve arrangedwith said conveying tubes or conduits adjacent with the coupling to thesaid air compressor, said pendulum valve consisting of the pendulum barpivotally connected within said coupling, a T shaped head formed on saidpendulum bar, said T shaped head formed with conical ends, said conicalends adapted to engage in the open ends of said conveying tubes orconduits, as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a system for propelling vessels, a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits communicating betweensaid air compressor and said outlet ports, a pendulum valve arranged incombination with the coupling of the said conveying tubes or conduitswith the said air compressor, said pendulum valve pivotally arrangedadjacent with said inlet ends of said tubular connection or conduits,said pendulum valve formed with a T shaped head, said T shaped headformed with conical ends, said conical ends adapted to engage in theends of said conveying tubes or conduits to open and close the admissionof air to said conveying tubes or conduits, said pendulum valve adaptedto be actuated by the rolling of the vessel, as and for the purposespecified.

7 In a system for propelling vessels of a plurality of outlet portsthrough the hull below the water line, an air compressor suitablysituated in said hull, conveying tubes or conduits communicating betweensaid air compressor and said outlet ports, a pendulum valve arranged insaid coupling adjacent to the conveying tubes or conduits with said aircompressor, gate valves arranged in said conveying tubes or conduitsadjacent with said outlet ports, said pendulum valve adapted toautomatically close off the supply of air to said conveying tubes orconduits from the said air compressor, said gate valves adapted toprevent the dis charge of air and the inflow of water through saidoutlet ports, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a system for propelling vessels consisting of the herein describedmeans of dis charging compressed ainfrom outlet ports, situated in thehull below the Water line, and valves arranged in combination with thesaid outlet ports to open and close said outlet ports, and prevent thedischarge of compressed air and to close ofi" the inflow of Waterthrough said outlet ports, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Toronto this 9th day of May THOMAS MOTTON. In the presence of'J. N. BLACK, LILLIAN CLANoY.

